How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot,
and how they fought together unknown.


THEN departed Sir Tristram and rode straight unto
Camelot, to the peron that Merlin had made to-fore,
where Sir Lanceor, that was the king's son of Ireland, was
slain by the hands of Balin. And in that same place was
the fair lady Colombe slain, that was love unto Sir
Lanceor; for after he was dead she took his sword and
thrust it through her body. And by the craft of Merlin
he made to inter this knight, Lanceor, and his lady,
Colombe, under one stone. And at that time Merlin
prophesied that in that same place should fight two the
best knights that ever were in Arthur's days, and the best
lovers. So when Sir Tristram came to the tomb where
Lanceor and his lady were buried he looked about him
after Sir Palomides. Then was he ware of a seemly knight
came riding against him all in white, with a covered
shield. When he came nigh Sir Tristram he said on
high: Ye be welcome, sir knight, and well and truly have
ye holden your promise. And then they dressed their
shields and spears, and came together with all their might
of their horses; and they met so fiercely that both their
horses and knights fell to the earth, and as fast as they
might avoided their horses, and put their shields afore
them; and they struck together with bright swords, as
men that were of might, and either wounded other
wonderly sore, that the blood ran out upon the grass.
And thus they fought the space of four hours, that never